Experiment 1
Goal
Find experimental α
Select an equation
∆θ = wot + 1/2αt^2
Substitute
10π = 0 + 1/2α(9.5)^2
Solve
α = 0.696 rad/s^2

Goal
Find a
Select an equation
∆x = vot + 1/2at^2
Substitute
0.92 = 0 + 1/2a(9.5)^2
Solve
a = 0.02 rad/s^2

Goal
Find actual α
Select an equation
α = a/r
Substitute
α = 0.0204/0.3
Solve
α = 0.68 rad/s^2

Goal
Find percent error for experimental α
Select an equation
% error = (| experimental - actual | / (experimental + actual)/2) x 100%
Substitute
% error = (| 0.696 - 0.68 | / (0.696 + 0.68)/2) x 100%
Solve
% error = 2.325%

The percent error shows that the experimental and actual values agree with each other reasonably.


Experiment 2
Goal
Find tension
Select an equation
F = ma or T = mg
Substitute
(0.23)(9.81) = T
Solve
T = 2.256 N

Goal
Find experimental moment of inertia
Select an equation
I = T/α
Substitute
I = 0.06762/0.6962
Solve
I = 0.0971 kg*m^2

Goal
Find actual moment of inertia
Select an equation
Need 3:
I = 1/3ML^2 (thin rod)
I = 1/2MR^2 (disk)
∑I = I1 + I2 + I3
Substitute
I =1/3(0.0748)(0.34)^2 (rod)
I = 1/2(0.018)(0.02125^2) (disk)
I = 5.8 x 10^-4 kg*m^2 (pulley)
Solve
I = 0.0115 kg*m^2 (rod)
I = 1.6 x 10^-5 kg*m (disk)
I = 5.8 x 10^-4 kg*m^2 (pulley)

Which when substituted:
∑I = 0.0121 kg*m^2

Goal
Find percent error for experimental moment of inertia
Select an equation
% error = (| experimental - actual | / (experimental + actual)/2) x 100%
Substitute
% error = (| 0.0971 - 0.0121 | / (0.0971 + 0.0121)/2) x 100%
Solve
% error = 155.678%

The experimental and the actual do not seem to agree at all, meaning there must have been a large error in the experiment.

Experiment 3
Goal
Find PE
Select an equation
PE = mgh
Substitute
PE = 0.23 x 9.8 x 0.9
Solve
PE = 2.0286 j

Goal
Find KE (translational)
Select an equation
KE = 1/2mv^2
Substitute
KE = 1/2(0.23)(0.189)
Solve
KE = 0.0217 j

Goal
Find KE (rotational)
Select an equation
KE = 1/2Iw^2
Substitute
KE = 1/2(0.0971)(6.3)^2
Solve
KE = 1.93 j

Goal
Find KE (total)
Select an equation
KE = 1/2mv^2 + 1/2Iw^2
Substitute
KE = 0.0217 + 1.93
Solve
KE = 1.9517

Goal
Find percent error for experimental energy
Select an equation
% error = (| experimental - actual | / (experimental + actual)/2) x 100%
Substitute
% error = (| 2.0307 - 1.9517 | / (2.0307 + 1.9517)/2) x 100%
Solve
% error = 3.97%

According to the data, the energy was reasonably conserved.